Support Worker Preparatory Course
Learn basic skills for a pathway into CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support. Begin your journey into becoming a support or community service worker with this non-accredited 8 week program. This program is ideal for those who wish to move into a disability or aged care support worker role, or those wishing to move into general community services or volunteer positions.
This program covers content such as understanding support worker roles, communication skills, person-centred practice, WHS and infection control, person care awareness, specialised care such as dementia and palliative, and developing a worker readiness portfolio.
Please be advised that this program may contain triggering content regarding dementia, personal and intimate care, health and bodily functions, palliative care, and abuse or neglect identification and escalation.
Pathways students can take after this program include:
CHC22015 Certificate II in Community Services
CHC24015 Certificate II in Active Volunteering
CHC32015 Certificate III in Community Services
CHC34015 Certificate III in Active Volunteering
CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing or Disability)
Target Audience:
This program is suitable for students 17 years old who wish to develop skills and knowledge for work as a support worker or as a taste-tester before committing to an accredited qualification. Ideally those wishing to move into support work will have the following characteristics:
– Desire to help others
– Comfortable with bodily functions and health
– Good communication skills
– Good mobility and physical health to assist clients with movement and undertake personal care
– Are non-discriminatory, kind, and empathetic
Students will need to undertake an LLN quiz to ensure that reading, writing, and numeracy are at the required level for this content.
For those wishing to move into a support worker role, a National Police Check, NDIS check, and Working With Children Check are required for the industry, however are not required for this specific program.
This program is subsidised by NSW government funding.
Students over the age of 15, living in NSW, who are an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident or hold a Humanitarian or Refugee visa and are currently under employed, unemployed, receiving a Centrelink benefit, working for a not-for-profit, have a disability or are suffering from barriers, are eligible for funding to cover the cost of the program.
– Desire to help others
– Comfortable with bodily functions and health
– Good communication skills
– Good mobility and physical health to assist clients with movement and undertake personal care
– Are non-discriminatory, kind, and empathetic
Students will need to undertake an LLN quiz to ensure that reading, writing, and numeracy are at the required level for this content.
For those wishing to move into a support worker role, a National Police Check, NDIS check, and Working With Children Check are required for the industry, however are not required for this specific program.
This program is subsidised by NSW government funding.
Students over the age of 15, living in NSW, who are an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident or hold a Humanitarian or Refugee visa and are currently under employed, unemployed, receiving a Centrelink benefit, working for a not-for-profit, have a disability or are suffering from barriers, are eligible for funding to cover the cost of the program.
Learning Outcomes:
- Try out the content and skills of becoming a support worker without committing to a full qualification
- Build up the basics before you commit to a longer program
- Learn about ethics, legality, safety, personal care, communication, dementia, equipment use and infection control
- Pathway into an accredited program or full accredited qualification
Learning Methods:
This program is delivered as a face-to-face session, running from 9:30am – 2:30pm each Wednesday for 8 weeks.
Program Benefits:
- Learn skills and knowledge to prepare for a full qualification
- Prepare for work in the community service sector
- Refresh your knowledge before undertaking a full qualification
- Try it as taster before committing to a career change
Content:
- Person-centred approach to care
- Legal and ethical information such as boundaries, rights and scope
- Professional communication skills
- Objective and unbiased documentation
- Values and ethics in person-centred approaches
- Respect and autonomy, dignity of risk and consent
- Safe work practices and hazard awareness
- Infection control and prevention
- Dignity and privacy in relation to personal care
- Safe equipment use and mobility assistance
- Dementia-aware supportive communication
- Strengths-based planning and support
- Emotional presence and boundaries
Upcoming Workshops
| Name | Date | Time | Location | Available Spaces | Cost | |
| 83PREM226 – Support Worker Preparatory Course | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 09:30 am – 02:30 pm | Penrith Campus | 10 | $0.00 |